Tanner Park memories

I love this picture.

I snapped it at just the right time on the walk back in Tanner Park. There was a spot where he used to climb up when he was Tiny Riley, and survey his surroundings, or sit and rest for a minute. Tanner Park is about a 2-mile loop, and for Tiny Riley, that was a lot.

Tanner Park is in Salt Lake City, UT, and is part of/connect to the Parleys Historic Nature Park. Tanner Park is the off leash dog area that follows Parleys Creek. It’s an out and back hike, with numerous trails, and plenty space for your dog to run around, explore nature, sniff all the things, and plenty of places for your dog to take dip in the river in the summar.

When Riley was Tiny Riley, it was one of our favorite places to go.

It’s about a two mile loop nestled within some 80 acres of Parleys Historic Nature Park. There’s a bike trail that runs up near the interstate and crosses the interestate at 17th and then follows Sugarhouse Park. The scenery is beautifuly, especially when it’s snowed. The start of the dog park is an incline, which can be treacherous in winter if you don’t have crampons.

Tanner Park was one of the few places we could go during the pandemic and be around people and dogs. I learned quickly that Tanner Park was a better place than typical, enclosed dog parks. Ry had space if he needed it, and he’d run off his energy on the way out, sniff all the things, add to message threads, and be a calm, chill pup on the way back. He became less bothered by people, and enjoyed running around and playing with other dogs.

He’s an Australian Cattle Dog mix, so bum rushing and body slamming is in his nature. I didn’t know that at the time, so whenever I saw little kids, I’d call him to me, leash him, walk by and check that the kids were a good distance away, and then let him off lead again. At the time, I thought I could train body slamming out of him. I thought I could train leading with his mouth out of him.

Nope.

He is genetically programmed to do those things. Given his breed mix, it’s a wonder I survived his adolescence! :joy:

He was timid when he was Tiny Riley, and it took him a couple months to work up the nerve to pass people. He would hang back by me, and think about going by people if they were in front of us, then decide to wait until he could take the widest possible route around them. It was kind of cute and adorable. I remember being elated when he just rushed right between a group of people to go explore.

We often went when it wasn’t very crowded. People tended to stop at a couple of spots and gather. People standing around bothered Ry. People trying to pet Ry bothered him. Most people were pretty good about that, and it was nice, from time to time, to talk to other dog owners. Many of us were in a similar situation trying to raise a puppy during a pandemic when all the normal things didn’t apply.

There were times Tanner Park felt like our sanctuary. A place I could let him wander, and let my mind wander. I didn’t need to be constantly viglient, just aware. At the time, I don’t think I had processed how important that time was. I think I had a sense it was important, but only now do I see how important. I’m grateful we had a place like Tanner Park during the pandemic.

I miss Tanner Park sometimes. I’ve thought about buying property and building such a place. Maybe one day.